Story byPioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

Are Niko Medved’s Gophers an NCAA tournament team?

Andy Greder, Pioneer PressSun, June 7, 2026 at 5:53 PM UTC·3 min read

Last June, the Gophers men’s basketball team was starting from scratch. As summer workouts began, new head coach Niko Medved was beginning his first season at Minnesota with only two reserve players returning to the program.

“Just a complete start over,” Medved told the Pioneer Press in May.

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When Medved’s second team takes the Athletes Village courts for its first official session on Tuesday, he will have five returners from last season’s plucky roster. And arguably the team’s new best player, North Carolina transfer guard Kyan Evans, spent two years with Medved at Colorado State before his junior season in Chapel Hill, N.C.

“Just a completely different vibe,” Medved said.

Medved called it a base of “corporate knowledge,” establishing the on-court style and systems of play, plus the culture in how they want to do it.

“There’s a belief from the players, too, that this process works,” Medved said. “I think they’ll do a great job of helping the new guys pick up speed.”

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The Gophers return three starters: forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, wing Bobby Durkin and point guard Isaac Asuma. Plus, two younger backups in guard Kai Shinholster and forward Grayson Grove, who was thrust into the starting lineup after Crocker-Johnson’s foot injury ended his season in February.

Crocker-Johnson has been cleared for full-go practices this summer, Medved said last month. The 6-foot-8 rising senior was the U’s leading rebounder (6.8 per game) and its second-leading scorer (13.4 per game) in 24 games.

That group will be tasked with bringing along four other transfers — wings Nolan Groves (Texas Tech), Winters Grady (Michigan) and Malachi Palmer (Villanova) and center Malick Kordel (Michigan). The U has three true freshmen — wing Nolen Anderson (Wayzata), guard Cedric Tomes (East Ridge) and center Chadrick Myopi (Crean Lutheran in Irvine, Calif.).

The Gophers’ rash of injuries forced them to finish the season with a six-man rotation. Despite the dearth of players, the U finished with a 15-18 record and a 8-12 mark in the Big Ten, good for 11th in the 18-team conference.

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Last season, rival Iowa and first-year head coach Ben McCollum punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight.

Can Medved’s second squad break a seven-year drought and reach March Madness in 2027? They will need to stay healthier in order to make a jump in Year 2.

“Boy, it’s hard to say,” Medved replied. “I mean, that’s obviously the goal. You (reporters) will get tired of me. Every year, no matter what anyone’s expectations are, if somebody says we’re preseason this or that, I’ve been picked to win the league. I’ve been picked in the bottom of the league in every place I’ve been.

“I really don’t change in that. Our job is to go out there and figure out a way to get this team to play at its highest level to become the best version of themselves. I think if we’re able to do that, I think we can compete.”

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With Kai Shinholster back, how does the Gophers’ roster break down?